Coronavirus infections among eight people are linked to a large party in which the host had symptoms of COVID-19 in Rockland County, outside of New York City, health officials said.
But some of the party goers refuse to comply with contract trackers, and will receive citations with possible fines of $ 2,000 a day, authorities said.
Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said at a press conference on Wednesday that health workers have been trying to speak to people who tested positive after attending the party in an effort to contain what that officials call a new group of coronaviruses.
“Many don’t answer their cell phones and don’t call back,” Ruppert said, adding that some deny being at the party. “My staff has been told that a person does not want or has to speak to investigators about my disease.”
She said county officials will cite those who do not cooperate with contact trackers and begin fining them $ 2,000 for each day of noncompliance.
The party was organized last month in New City, according to NBC New York, and county officials believe some of those who attended attended other important parties in the area.
“Big meetings are still a problem,” said Ruppert. “The risk of virus transmission is high and very real.”
Rockland County executive Ed Day said people who refused to help contact trackers were demonstrating “ignorance, stupidity or stubbornness.”
“I am not going to stand idly by while risking the health of this county,” Day said.
Rockland County has had more than 13,600 coronavirus cases, with 668 deaths, according to a county website.
Authorities said the current decline in new numbers of coronavirus viruses in the county has been encouraging, but to continue the positive trend they need residents to help them contain the outbreaks.
“If the health department calls, answer the phone,” said Ruppert.
County health officials used a similar warning tactic that they would fine non-conforming residents during a 2019 measles outbreak, which was effective, Ruppert said.
